Since I'm on the CBD's mailing list, I get their email announcements. Read this one. Sorry if it makes you sick. But hopefully it also makes you mad enough to want to oppose them.
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December 23, 2002
Dear Doug,

As you know, the conservation community has seen significant challenges in 2002. We face a political climate of weakened environmental protections and an economic climate that has left most of us who defend our environment striving to do more with less. The Center for Biological Diversity is no exception. The support that we receive from people who care, like you do, about protecting endangered species and wild places will make a very real difference in what we are able to accomplish in the coming year.

As a biodiversity activist subscriber, I am sure you are already aware of much of the important work we are doing. What you may not know is that the Center is the nation's premier advocate for endangered species. We have won Endangered Species Act listings for 288 endangered species - more than any other environmental group. The Center has also won designation of 38 million acres of protected critical habitat - more than all other environmental groups combined.

But don't just take our word for it. Even other environmental groups say "They are, pound for pound, dollar for dollar, the most effective conservation organization in the country" (LA Weekly, 2002). And even some U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees "insist the land management agencies wouldn't even try to abide by environmental protection laws if it weren't for the Center's lawsuits" (Backpacker Magazine, February 2003).

It's true: at the Center we have a passionate commitment to ensuring endangered species live to see a future - and ensuring future generations of humans live to see them.

All we need to keep doing this important work - to vastly expand the list of species we've protected and to intensify our efforts to see that each of these species receives protection strong enough to save them - is your financial and moral support.

It's simple: We can't do it without you. Please take a couple of minutes right now to show your support for the Center by clicking on either the Join Now or Gift Membership links above. You will be directly linked to our secure server, where your can make your membership contribution in moments. Or simply mail a check to the Center for Biological Diversity, P.O. Box 710, Tucson, AZ 85702 attn: Membership, or call us at (520) 623-5252 ext. 303. Even if you can't afford to give much, please, give something. Add your voice to ours. (Click here for a printable form.)

As a member, you will receive our quarterly newsletters, as well as other alerts to keep you informed about current legislative decisions, public hearings, letter writing campaigns, community events and volunteer opportunities. For a gift of $50 or more, you will also receive a 100% cotton t-shirt designed especially for Center members. Most importantly, you will know we are hard at work turning your contribution into meaningful protection for species that desperately need your help.

For example, these are just a few of the major accomplishments we had this year:

Intervened to restore Endangered Species Act protections after the Bush administration systematically withdrew designated critical habitat for numerous species - including the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, California red-legged frog, and 19 species of West Coast salmon.
Filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency requesting that it ban the sale of pesticides that may be harming the threatened California red-legged frog and other species, including humans.
Forced the federal government to comply with the Energy Policy Act by converting its automobile fleets to alternative fuel vehicles by court-ordered deadlines.
Halted temporarily the Navy's illegal bombing of migratory bird habitat in the Mariana Islands - a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Filed suit to compel the government to enforce the Marine Mammal Protection Act and prevent the senseless, brutal deaths of hundreds of marine mammals snared in commercial fishing gear each year.
Delivered Congressional testimony outlining scientific recommendations for legitimate forest restoration projects - while opposing President Bush's destructive "Healthy Forests Initiative" by running a full-page ad in the New York Times.
These are significant accomplishments - but I don't have to tell you that we face even greater challenges in the year ahead. The Bush administration is stepping up its relentless attacks on our nation's environmental laws - and with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, citizen oversight is the only thing standing in the way of the sacrifice of our natural resources to short-sighted political decisions.

In fact, just a few weeks ago, the Senate passed a bill broadly exempting the Department of Defense from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - giving the military license to bomb natural habitat for more than 850 species of birds. And the Bush administration is pushing for similar Department of Defense exemptions from the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Meanwhile, Bush continues to push forward his plan to open our national forests to plunder by the timber industry - by masquerading logging of old-growth trees in remote areas as "fuel reduction" projects.

In the year ahead, we need to double our efforts to ensure that the Bush administration does not succeed in giving carte blanche access to our public lands to his allies in the timber, oil, mining and livestock industries. We know the task ahead of us. But with the generous support of committed individuals - and the Center's creativity, grit and unparalleled track record in the courtroom - we're confident we will continue to see sweeping victories for endangered species. Together we will make sure the voice of endangered species is not silenced in the halls of Congress.

Please join us in the fight to save endangered species.

We need you as much as they need us.

For the Wild,
Kierán Suckling
Executive Director

[ 12-23-2002, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: KingGlamis ]

I would have killed myself if my name was Suckling.

"What you may not know is that the Center is the nation's premier advocate for endangered species."

Lot of ego working here. Just because they narrowly define themselves to get top ranking, doesn't make them smart. I'm the planet's premier devourer of anchovy and onion pizzas, should I ask you for money to pay for it?

"some U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees "insist the land management agencies wouldn't even try to abide by environmental protection laws if it weren't for the Center's lawsuits" (Backpacker Magazine, February 2003)."

If they can't do their job, I suggest they quit and try something simpler. The very people who are authorized to enforce they laws are saying they do not even try. Then they tell the CBD about their incompetence. Idiots in uniform.

"to vastly expand the list of species we've protected"

Whether they need protection or not. Pick a large piece of public land, bigger the better to keep top billing and the acreage counts way up. Then find an animal, any animal, and file a lawsuit. Tie up the land and make a press release. Ask for more money. I'm in the wrong business and P.T. Barnum died too young. He would never have been in the circus business. Environmentalism has more suckers with a lot more money.

The difference between a circus and environmentalists? Answer: there is no difference. Both have tents, clowns, suckers, bearded ladies, lots of performing animals, and charge admission.

"100% cotton t-shirt"

I guess the cotton plant makes the list last.

"sale of pesticides that may be harming the threatened California red-legged frog and other species, including humans."

As if spraying pesticides is some sort of recreational endeavor, not just to make sure we all get fed. Maybe if they didn't need the T shirts, less spraying would be needed. Anyone heard of the weevil?

"Filed suit to compel the government to enforce the Marine Mammal Protection Act and prevent the senseless, brutal deaths of hundreds of marine mammals snared in commercial fishing gear each year."

Anyone check the pollution counts at La Jolla beaches lately thanks to seal waste? That local fish populations are being affected? That great white are showing up?

"giving the military license to bomb natural habitat for more than 850 species of birds. And the Bush administration is pushing for similar Department of Defense exemptions from the Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act."

Making it sound like the birds are the enemy. Just where would the CBD want the military to prepare? The answer: no where! Peace, love, North Korea's got the bomb and it's dictator is a brain damaged syphilitic.

"Meanwhile, Bush continues to push forward his plan to open our national forests to plunder by the timber industry - by masquerading logging of old-growth trees in remote areas as "fuel reduction" projects."

What a load of crap. Most out-of-control forest fires come from overcrowded forests. The reduction is sensible, healthy and long overdue.

"Bush administration does not succeed in giving carte blanche access to our public lands to his allies in the timber, oil, mining and livestock industries."

I'm his ally and I'm not in these industries. Like all citizens of this country, we are the customers of these industries. Including everyone in the CBD. That's hypocrisy. If they don't believe their own propaganda, then their public intent is a farce.

"unparalleled track record in the courtroom."

Anyone can hire a lawyer, file a suit and tie up public land from legitimate multiple usage. Why not try to get enough of us to believe in their junk science and buy into the dogmatic rhetoric? Then we can VOTE for their manure and make America one big commune.

"We need you as much as they need us."

SEND LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY!!! We'll spray a few weevils and make you a T Shirt!!

LOL...Onmivore. Great points.

Bluesky, Bluesky where are you?

Somebody needs to come to CBD's defense!

Cut & Paste.....LOL

quote:

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All we need to keep doing this important work - to vastly expand the list of species we've protected and to intensify our efforts to see that each of these species receives protection strong enough to save them - is your financial and moral support.

It's simple: We can't do it without you. Please take a couple of minutes right now to show your support for the Center by clicking on either the Join Now or Gift Membership links above. You will be directly linked to our secure server, where your can make your membership contribution in moments. Or simply mail a check to the Center for Biological Diversity, Even if you can't afford to give much, please, give something. Add your voice to ours. (Click here for a printable form.)

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Looking through all the BS, this is what I see. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$